I was a huge wrestling fan growing up a child of the 80's. So needless to say I was a massive Hulkamaniac like many his death a week ago pretty much ripped a part of my childhood away. So I've been going down a rabbit hole lately of celebrity and industry reactions to his death. Many have expressed sympathy and admiration for his work, notably The Rock, Trump, Stallone, and others. But among some circles there has been complete derision for him as a "racist" and his caught on tape remarks should tarnish and ruin anything else he did in life. For those that don't remember, in 2015 Hogan was caught on tape using the N-word and saying some really terrible things about his daughter dating a black man. He was kicked out of the WWE hall of fame and terminated from his legends contract. In 2018 he was allowed back after an apology. Some guys on the roster still hold anymosity and refused to even come out for the Hogan tribute last week. Fan forums still have many people that trash him for those comments and define him for them. He was booed in LA in january for supporting trump and those comments.

Keep in mind, Steve Austin beat his wife and never lost his legends contract. Still adored by fans. Chris Benoit murdered his wife and young son and is still adored by some fans because they chalk it up to CTE. Countless other WWE stars have committed actual crimes that resulted in actual harm to others (not hurt feels by the n-word), and still are honored and have seemingly untarnished legacies.

Some people were even shamed and canceled because they dared post tributes to Hogan.

WWE star Chelsae Green was forced off social media because she posted a tribute.
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/wwe-star-chelsea-green-leaves-social-media-after-backlash-hulk-hogan-comments

Influencer Joey Swoll forced off social media after also posting a Hogan tribute. He even tried to bend the knee and take it back to no avail.
https://nypost.com/2025/07/31/sports/fitness-influencer-joey-swoll-quits-social-media-after-hulk-hogan-costume-tribute-backlash/

Why does the fallout from using this word carry so much weight? Why is it considered worse than actual violence and harm? If we are being completely honest, someone who engages in petty theft is worse than someone using the n-word. In the case of the former, there's actual harm to someone. Hell, running a stop sign is literally worse than using the n-word when it comes to potential actual harm.

You won't understand because you're white.

It gets easier to understand when you internalize the fact that it is the band queers and theater nerds that run the government, media, and our schools...

Its a word, get over it. The fact that we as a society allow a single word to have so much power is totally ridiculous. That same word is used in every rap song and is exchanged between every black kid and yet, it's so taboo that you can only refer to it by it's first letter or you are a racist is ****ing stupid.

I love Joey Swoll but this is really weak if he logged off because of this. Who gives a **** about all of those people and what they're offended by? It was a tribute to an American Icon, not a celebration of the Grand Dragon. People are way too soft...

The irony is that none of the performers who refused to come out for Hulk's tribute would have a stage to stand on if it wasn't for him. He is the single greatest reason WWE exists in its current form.

And I would bet every single person remonstrating against Hogan, and 99.9% of the rest of humanity, have said some morally indefensible terms, including racial slurs, in a moment of anger/frustration/whatever. I'd hate to see the reactions people would have to some of the things I've yelled at drivers on my daily commute in the privacy of my own car.

The fact of the matter is that, for the vast majority of his public life, Hulk Hogan was a shining beacon of American exceptionalism, and he modeled traditional American values. "Train hard, say your prayers, and eat your vitamins." He granted over 200 wishes for Make A Wish Foundation. He visited thousands of kids in children's hospitals, all without press or fanfare. He always made time for his fans, even when he wasn't physically fit to do so. And he mentored, taught, and built the careers of dozens of other WWE stars.

Quite frankly, the people who want to demonize Hogan over his comments aren't worthy enough to wipe the **** off his wrestling boots.

Slicer97 said:

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You won't understand because you're white.

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I"m not and I don't.

What's so over the top is that just saying the word - even without using it in a derogatory way - can get a white person canceled or fired. For example, Morgan Wallen was canceled for using it while drunk during an exchange with a friend, and he even used the "-a" form of it. Thankfully, he came back, as it should be.

Someone, forget who, was using it in a historical context and they canceled him.

White liberals are responsible.

aggiepanic95 said:

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Its a word, get over it. The fact that we as a society allow a single word to have so much power is totally ridiculous. That same word is used in every rap song and is exchanged between every black kid and yet, it's so taboo that you can only refer to it by it's first letter or you are a racist is ****ing stupid.

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i don't care what he said, i am way passed giving two ****s about this topic any longer.

It's become a power to wield. The use of feigned righteous indignation to call upon authorities or a mob to bully and intimidate a political or social or even personal opponent who can be demonstrated to have violated a political taboo. That is the way of the world in the era of ubiquitous social media exposure.

Mob justice, and any politically incorrect or taboo statements that can be used as a plausible rationale to feign emotional victimization becomes a weapon to wield, like some sort of video game wizard summoning a horde of goblins with a magic spell.

The really odd part is how much knighting and virtue signaling is involved because most often the most radical and largest numbers represented in the vengeful mob aren't the target of the offense, but are rather third parties rushing into be seen to be exacting justice on behalf of other victims. These people are trying to gain self righteous moral credit and social status amongst peers by participating in piling on to any alleged offender. A few screen taps and you can instantly become justice warrior.

If we judge people solely on their worst traits and ignore their best, we do a disservice to ourselves.

Like I said before, I'm super glad we didn't grow up during a time of Constance scrutiny and cameras or we'd all have ruined careers and lives. What people do and say in private is no one's business.

It's also why I don't pay any attention to celebrities or entertainers commentary. I enjoy them for what they are and what they do. I don't care if they love gay people or want to save the planet or use foul language in their own lives. I just don't.

I read Booker T's commentary on Hogan's legacy, deeming it as "complicated" and acting all torn up about his use of the n word, which is really pathetic considering that Booker T once used that word on live television and still hasn't lived it down.

Additionally, when Hogan went to WCW he basically ran the organization. Booker T and his brother Stevie Ray were a fledging tag team called "Harlem Heat". Hogan was the one that demanded that they be pushed and soon after they took off and became huge stars. That even catapulted Booker T to become a singles legend.

So he pretty much owes his entire career to Hogan. Him taking that victim position against Hogan now is the most ungrateful, pathetic thing I can imagine.

Oh, the cherry on top is that Booker T actually served time in prison for armed robbery in Houston. So for him to try to assert the moral high ground against Hogan is ridiculous.

Joey Swoll was stupid to applogize in the first place.

samurai_science said:

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Joey Swoll was stupid to applogize in the first place.

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Yep. They smell blood in the water when you apologize.

Most black people should be able to relate to this sentiment (if you put the Jordan on the other foot).

Quote:

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in 2015 Hogan was caught on tape using the N-word and saying some really terrible things about his daughter dating a black man.

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A lot of people would be surprised by how prevalent this sentiment is in the black community.

Can we just use "black trash" to describe the hooligan portion of the black community, like we do with whites?

If any racial or ethnic group has earned a few negative descriptors...well...it ain't the Asians.

They fall way behind by almost every metric, they lead in the worst statistics. Something like 4-6% commit like 50% of all violent crime. I am done trying to act like this is some precious and fragile group that we should all bend over backwards constantly appease or avoid offending. This is consistent with how law abiding conservative black people that I know feel. They KNOW that young black men are by far the most dangerous people to surround yourself with in society. BY FAR.